14 INTRODUCTION. 
but what I most wished for, to know how to successfully 
pursue them with a gun, no man seemed to write of. 
I can recall how often in those early days I searched 
every book on sporting literature, desirous of learning 
something on this subject. But while books have been 
written ad infinitum on dogs, sporting reminiscences, 
boats and game birds, yet on this subject, one I longed 
for most, the scientific hunting of wild fowl, there ap- 
peared but short articles engrafted into other books. 
My secret disappointment, then, was the spur that urged 
me to this work, for I resolved that what books denied 
me, I would learn from wild Nature,—she should be my 
book. And under the broad canopy of the sky, with 
the trees, the flowers, the grass and the water, as my 
classmates, I would accept her as my teacher, and be- 
come a pupil who would profit by my opportunities. 
Knowing there are so many young men who feel as 
I did, anxious to learn the secrets of wild fowl shooting, 
it affords me pleasure to present this work, for from it 
they can learn in a few hours, the results of my life’s 
studies. 
To those who are more advanced in the art, and who 
have profited by their experience, my fraternal wish is 
to present in attractive form, and bring back to them, 
remembrances of many happy days they have passed in 
wild fowl shooting. For judging them by myself, one 
of our greatest pleasures is, when some one paints, with 
words of truth, scenes we have so often enjoyed. 
Field sports are either elevating or degrading. I 
choose to make them the former, and the teachings set 
forth in this book are of that character. Sportsmen are 
not and should not be prone to selfishness. I speak to 
him who by the ties of business cares is bound to close 
EE 
